Power-converter



C. C. BUTLER.

POWER CONVERTER. 7 APPLICATION FILED JULY I. 1919.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

awmutoz CLINTGN C. BUTLER, 013 ANQKA, E'IIIINEEOTA.

PGWEBJ-CGN Application filed July 1, 191% To all whom it may concern:

it known that E, CLINTON C. BUTLER, a citizen o1 the United States,residing at- ;inolra, in the county of i-inoka and State ofliulinnesota, have invented a new and useful Power-Converter, or whichthe followiLg is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in power converters, the objectof the invention being to provide an improved device of this characterwhich is adapted to be driven by the driving wheels of an automobile,whereby the power of the automobile engine may be used for operatingother machinery.

A further'object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter forth which is comparatively simple in cons 'uction,inexpensive to manufacture and ln hly eh'icient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention co sists in the novel teatures ofconstruction and combination of parts which will be more fully de ribedhereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims. V

In the drawings accompanying and torn.- ing part of this specification,

Figure 1 is an end iew showing? the device in position to receive powerfrom the rear wheels of an automobile:

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional side view showing in full lines the rearaxleand wheels of the car in position to operate the device and dottedlines in position to be released therefrom.

The same characters of refer nce designate the same parts in the of thedrawings.

Referring to the dra ngs, rectangular frame, on which or pair of bearingbrackets 3 and i tively. Tr the brackets 3 mounted shaft .LnL .c 5having secured at each end thereof a triotion wheel 6 and at a pointbetween the brackets a belt pulley 7. To the brackets 4: are pivotallysecured a pair of members each having a lifting arm 8 provided at itsupper end with a ll-shaped recess 9 adapted to engage the rear axle ofan automobile or other motor driven vehicle, each of said members havingformed thereon a second arm 10 carrying at its free end roller 11adapted to contact with the ground so as to permit the rolling of thedevice into position Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 27, 1920.

beneath the vehicle. A. third pair of bearing brackets 12 are secured tothe side membersof the frame and have mounted therein a shaft 13, oneach end of which is secured an arm 14:, to the opposite end of which ispivotally secured a connecting rod 15, the opposite end of which isadapted to engage one of a series of openings 16 formed in the liftingarm 8, whereby the lifting arm may be adjusted to suit wheels ofdiiierent diameters. By this construction it will be seen that when theshaft 13 is rotated the lifting arms will be pulled backward or pushedforward, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 13. F orrotating the shaft, a ratchet wheel 1'? is secured thereto, and a handlever 18 is loosely mounted on the shaft and carries a pivoted doublepawl 19 of ordinary construction, by means of which the ratchet teethmay be engaged to rotate the shaft in either direction.

il hen it is desired to use the automobile engine i' r operatingmachinery, the device is rolled u on its wheels 11 under the car untilthe shaped recesses 9 of the arms 8 engage the axle 20, whereupon thelever 18 ro'lred back and forth, the rear pawl havrst been to engage theratchet teeth. ill cause the shai't 13 to rotate backand thereby pullthe arms 8 back so as e the wheels 21 of the vehicle oil the this actionbeing continued until 'in *he ot the car are in contact J 1011 eels 5,and the rear end or the connecting rod 15 falls down below the centcrline of shaft 12 locking the rod and mount against displacement. It willlily be secs that by starting the motor i the v en the vehicle is inthis position motion W1 be inr ed, by means of the contact of ,ction ..ithe vehicle, to ti shaft 5 and thereby, through the medium of its pulley7 and a belt. (not shown), to any machinery which it n y be desired tooperate. The arms 8 are retained in elevated position by reason oi thefact that the arms 1% are brought into position in line with theconnecting rods 15 and the lifting arms thereby swung backward beyond avertical line passing through their axes, as shown in full lines in Fig.2, so that the w ight of the car itself serves to retain the wheels incontact with the triotion wheels 6. For lowering the arms 8 so as torelease the car, the double pawl is set so that the front portionthereof engages the and scope of the invention as pointed out in theclaims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. 'l he combination with a motor-driven vehicle having an axle and apair of driving wheels, of a frame, a shaft mounted for rotation thereonand having secured thereto a pair of friction wheels adapted to contactwith said driving wheels for receiving motion therefrom, a pair of armspivotally secured to said frame and adapted to engage said axle, asecond shaft mounted for rotation on said frame, a pair of arms securedto said shaft, a connecting rod between each of said arms and each ofsaid axle-engaging arms, and means for rotating said last mentionedshaft.

2. T he combination with a motor-driven vehicle having an axle and apair of driving wheels, of a frame, a shaft mounted for rotation thereonand having secured thereto a pair of friction Wheels adapted to con tactwith said driving wheels for receiving motion therefrom, a pair of armspivotally secure d to said frame and adapted to engage said axle, asecond shaft mounted for rotation on said frame, a pair of arms securedto said shaft, a connecting rod between each of said arms and each ofsaid axle-engaging arms, a ratchet wheel secured to the firs mentionedshaft, a hand lever loosely mounted on said shaft, and a pawl carried bythe lever and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel to rotate the same ineither direction. 3. in a power transmitting device, a frame, bearingbrackets supported by the frame, a pair of arms supported within thebrackets at each side of the frame, each of said pair of arms includingalifting arm and a supporting arm, a shaft supported by the frame, meansfor rotating the shaft, means having connection with the shaft andlifting arm to cause the lifting arm to swing with relation to the frameupon rotation of said shaft to lift a vehicle engaging the lifting armsand simultaneously move the supporting arms. out of operation, andfriction wheels supported by the frame.

In a power transmitting device, a frame, a pair of arms supportedadjacent each side of the frame, a roller supported by one of the armsof each pair for permitting the frame to be moved along the surface onwhich the same is supported, a lifting arm forming one of the arms ofeach pair, said lifting arm having a plurality of spaced openings, ashaftsupported on the frame, a connecting rod having connection with theshaft, one end of said connecting rod being disposed within one of theapertures of the lifting arm, a shaft supported on the frame, an armconnected to the shaft to rotate there :ith, said arm having connectionwith tl onnecting rod, means for rotating the siiaf t to cause aswinging movement of the pair of arms, and friction wheels supported bythe frame.

In. testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON G. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT F. PRATT, F. C. VVHEAT.

